Larry Lader, founding chair of the National Abortion Rights Action League
has brought his fight for reproductive freedom into the 21st century with his
recent book on RU 486. Abortion is still a legal option for terminating
pregnancy, but during the 20 odd years Mr. Lader has participated in this
struggle, the technology of the abortion procedure has advanced little, and
the publicity around the event has exploded. Mr. Lader's book makes the
point that RU 486 can improve one part of the problem and blunt another.

The book begins with an obligatory chapter on the history of abortion laws,
with a special emphasis on the politics in America that helped produce the
Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Next,
Mr. Lader explains that RU 486 can make the abortion procedure a private
matter between a woman and her physician in the doctor's office. "Rarely in
history has a scientific discovery had the power to intervene in the religious
and political conflicts of our time."

RU 486, which produces a safe and non-invasive abortion during early
pregnancy, was called the "moral property of women" by the French Health
Minister. Mr. Lader traces its development in France by Etienne Balieu and
the team of researchers who worked for Roussel Uclaf, the manufacturer.
The author did extensive research on all those involved in the discovery
of RU 486 and the history he recounts is a fascinating tale of science and
scientists.

However, the most crucial part of the story is the national and international
politics surrounding this medicine. Roussel Uclaf makes the drug available in
France and a few other nations, but they have refused to release it to any
country where there would be protests about its usage, even though the drug
may be useful in treating breast cancer or Cushing's Syndrome. Because of the
anti-abortion movement in America, the Bush administration has told the
FDA not to allow the importation of the drug even for research.
(See page 23)

In the book's final chapter, Mr. Lader outlines a strategy to end-run the
anti-abortion forces by getting individual states to import RU 486 under their
"mini-FDA" laws. A drug manufactured and used solely within a state, might not
be subject to banning at the federal level.

Even if it is, Mr. Lader believes that the ensuing court cases and publicity,
with diligent help from family planning providers, the medical profession and
activists could generate enough support to reverse the federal government's
policy. Since Mr. Lader was one of the original strategists who helped
legalize abortion in America, we can only hope that he has devised a strategy
to make abortion even safer and keep it legal.